some more "Free so Free" reviews

[FlyingCloud]

three quite nice reviews with almost the same conclusions, it seems…

dustedmagazine.com

Quote:

Perhaps it is to Macsis’ advantage that he is free of tribute, and of retrospective scrutiny. He is free to behave and create exactly as he has for the past fifteen-plus years, and we’re all the better for it.

full article:

Artist: J Mascis + The Fog
Album: Free So Free
Label: Ultimatum

Land of the Free

With all of the recent hubbub commemorating 1991 (the year that punk broke), it would seem only logical that retrospectives would focus in on those who may not have been at the forefront of the public’s eye, or at least not on the cover of Spin Magazine. Instead, aided by nicely packaged reissues, attention has centered on two fantastic no-brainers: Pavement and Nirvana. Meanwhile, those who chugged away, rather than burned out, continue to do so unaided and uncommemorated. High on this list is J Mascis, formerly of Dinosaur Jr., who has quietly released three excellent solo albums (as J Mascis and the Fog), two of them during the past two years. These solo albums are, for the most part, no different from any Dinosaur Jr. release, and exhibit songwriting that is as strong as anything Mascis has ever penned. The newest album from Mascis and the Fog, Free So Free, is the album that Warner Brothers wish they would’ve gotten from the ’91 Mascis, hits and all.

Mascis’ chosen route of thick, straightforward rock has changed little since he first began releasing records, and Free So Free could easily pick up from any point in his career. Songs done under J. Mascis and the Fog moniker differ very little from those done as Dinosaur Jr., and Mascis’ songs are still simple, clever, and catchy. Here, his guitar is sludgy and dense as ever, but as with More Light (the previous J Mascis and the Fog release), the production and timbre of the recording captures Mascis’ guitar tones with full clarity and grinding power. Like his friend and sometimes recording parter Robert Pollard, Mascis seems to pull from an unending well of innovative chord progressions and melodies, but while Pollard’s floodgates remain perpetually open, Mascis seems to be more of a mind to pluck and perfect, or at least refine. And indeed, over 10 songs and forty minutes, Free So Free does not have a notable weak spot. The noteworthy moments come only during the high points: “Freedom,â€

[FlyingCloud]

…forgot that one: it’s really weird <img>

bleedmusic.com

</font><blockquote><font>quote:</font><hr><font> The connection between hoary old grunge refugees and pulp-horror fiction has never been widely publicised before now. </font><hr></blockquote><font>

[FlyingCloud]

And finally:
homersmusic.com

right in the center of the site you can get a free J EP with live tracks <img> and a bonus video for free … when you buy the CD <img> <img> <img>

[AGAP]

Free ep with 3 live songs & video <img> Would be nice if they said which one, what year etc. The guitar centre ep released has 3 live songs and a video. Hope it’s a new one, geez could end up with a couple Free So Free discs…I have more than a few More Light as well so… <img>

I’ll try & get an answer from that site about the bonus disc.

Thanks for all the reviews

Allison <img>

[Author]

Posts